Manchester City vs. Liverpool: Reds' Player Ratings from Carling Cup Semifinal

Liverpool have one foot on the Wembley pitch.

The Reds dominated the early exchanges, Steven Gerrard scored a well-taken penalty and Liverpool beat Manchester City 1-0 at the Etihad Stadium in Wednesday's Carling Cup semifinal first leg.

The same teams will play again in two weeks at Anfield, where Liverpool will need only a draw to advance to their first Wembley cup final since 1996.

Liverpool benefited from solid performances throughout the pitch. Who did we choose for Man of the Match?

Read on to find out.

Goalkeeper

Pepe Reina: 7.5

What's not to like? Reina didn't have too much to do, but he was ready and steady when needed. Not that he ever looked troubled.

Defenders

Glen Johnson: 5.5

Johnson got forward well, especially early in the first half. That also meant he found himself too far up the pitch at times. Manchester City's Micah Richards burned him down the wing and created a glorious chance in the first half, but City wasted the opportunity. In the second half, Johnson made up for it with a textbook tackle to thwart a Sergio Agüero attack.

Daniel Agger: 7.5

Agger and his central defensive partner Martin Skrtel kept City quiet for most of the night. The hosts created mostly just a few long-distance shots, though Agüero managed a few dangerous forays. Agger kept his area clean and even got forward far enough to earn the game-winning penalty.

Martin Skrtel: 7.0

City's attackers were uncharacteristically quiet all night, and that had a lot to do with Liverpool's central defensive pairing. Skrtel did concede a bad giveaway in the second half, but nothing came of it.

Martin Kelly: 7.5

Almost nothing came from Manchester City's left side, which is where Martin Kelly was playing. Well done.

Midfielders

Steven Gerrard: 8.0 (Man of the Match)

Gerrard ran the show for the first 15-20 minutes from his advanced midfield spot just behind Andy Carroll. He sprayed passes across the pitch, supplied incisive balls, made dangerous runs and took his penalty with the skill we've come to expect from him. He even tested City's Joe Hart with a beautiful curling shot just before scoring. Gerrard was more quiet in the second half, but that was because Liverpool changed its strategy from attacking to holding their advantage.

Stewart Downing: 6.5

Downing tested Hart with a wicked volley moments before Gerrard's goal. Aside from a giveaway here or there, he was pretty solid until being subbed in the second half.

Jay Spearing: no rating

Spearing left the match in the 23rd minute with what appeared to be a hamstring injury. He didn't play long enough to give much of a read on his performance.

Jordan Henderson: 7.0

Henderson was solid defensively and offensively in his central role. Early in the first half, he made dangerous runs through the heart of City's midfield and he looked confident on the ball throughout the match.

Craig Bellamy: 5.0

Bellamy played as a withdrawn forward or winger, but he didn't contribute much at all besides a trackback here and there. When he was substituted in the second half, it was his first meaningful contribution in a long spell. That the home crowd applauded him so warmly—he formerly played for Manchester City—says a lot.

Forward

Andy Carroll: 5.5

Carroll got himself into dangerous positions often, especially with his goalscoring chance early in the first half. That chance, however, ended with a tame shot at Hart, and Carroll missed another chance later in the half. For what it's worth, Carroll displayed excellent positioning and strength, but his finishing was not good enough.

Substitutes

Charlie Adam: 6.5

Adam replaced Spearing in the 23rd minute and turned in a suitably hard-working and physical performance providing strong cover for the back four. A hard tackle (and tap on the head) got under Mario Balotelli's skin, to hilarious effect.

Jose Enrique: 5.0

Jose Enrique replaced Downing in the 60th minute and looked a bit off the pace. He got an earful from Reina after losing his mark during a City attack and that pretty much summed up his 30-minute cameo.

Jamie Carragher: no rating

Carragher replaced Bellamy in the latter stages and didn't have much effect on the match.